A “fire tornado” was spotted among the flames raging Los Angeles.

In video footage captured by Fox 11 on Friday, Jan. 10, viewers were able to see swirling winds emanating from a hillside blaze.

The natural occurrences, which the Library of Congress says are “rare,” form when strong winds mix with fire, ash and smoke.

Adam Krueger, Fox 11’s Chief Meteorologist, could be heard explaining the phenomenon in real time over the clip, likening the fire tornado to the dust swirls that can be seen on a baseball field.

“When you have air rising — you know, quicker [in] a certain spot and not so much surrounding it — you get this updraft, and then … all it takes is a little breeze coming from any direction [to meet] up with that updraft, and [it] will just kind of naturally spin like a vortex,” he said.

Krueger went on to explain that the spinning of “fire-nadoes” is also partially caused by the rotation of the Earth. “Like, you know,  [the] drain in your sink,” he said.

The Palisades Fire began its path of destruction in the Pacific-Palisades neighborhood just north of Santa Monica, Calif. on Tuesday, Jan. 7th. It has been especially difficult to contain due to a combination of high winds and dry weather.

Several other major fires have since broken out across L.A. County in the ensuing hours and days, including the Eaton Fire, the Hurst Fire and more.

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CNN reported that, as of Friday, Jan. 10, 10,000 properties have been destroyed and over 100,000 people are currently under evacuation order.

The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner (DME) reported that same day that there were 11 fire-related deaths that it was investigating.

Many in the L.A. community have lost their homes during the blazes, including notable celebrities like Anna Faris, Mandy Moore, Billy Crystal, Paris Hilton and more.